Concert series kicks off in Pembroke Feb. 9

International award-winning Westmeath songwriter Terry McLeish returns to Pembroke this winter for the weekly series Saturday matinees with outstanding Canadian singer-songwriters.

The Terry McLeish Show begins an eight-week series of Saturday afternoons at the Westside Tap and Grill in Pembroke on Feb. 9.

“We’re very excited to be back and this season we have an amazing lineup of some of Canada’s best singer-songwriters booked for the show,” said Terry McLeish, whose songs like Fitted Sheets, Uncle Russell and I Never Shoulda Told Her I Was a Cowboy have won acclaim in competitions such as The International Acoustic Awards, The International Song-writing Competition and The Great American Song Contest.

McLeish launched the popular series of shows last winter because he wanted to introduce the Valley audience to some of the musicians he has admired and worked with, and the series really took off.

“Many of these musicians never play here and for some it’s their first time in the Upper Ottawa Valley,” he noted.

He chose the location because the Westside Tap and Grill has easy access and parking, a good stage, and is live-music friendly.

The series of shows run every Saturday afternoon from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Feb. 9 and goes right through to the end of March.

“That way even the music fans who are farmers can make the show,” McLeish said. “It’s a good excuse to get out of the house for a few hours and still be able to get home for the evening. Back in the day, all of the hotels had their bands play a Saturday afternoon matinee and it was a great opportunity to hear music in a more informal atmosphere, meet the musicians and to hang out with friends.”

This year’s lineup feature guests who have all made their marks respectively in Canadian folk-roots music, including Mike McCormick – singer/songwriter, comedy and member of the Arrogant Worms on Feb. 9, John Carroll – finger style and slide guitar country blues on Feb. 16, Melwood Cutlery – a songwriter’s songwriter and master guitarist and singer on Feb. 23, John Allaire – award winning country-roots singer/songwriter touring in the U.S. and Canada on March 2, Terry Tufts – renown finger-style guitarist and singer/songwriter on March 9, Ian Tamblyn – Canadian icon, musician, adventurer, playwright on March 16, Catfish Willie – swing, jazz, folk, humorous ditties and high energy on March 23 and Keith Glass – founding member of Prairie Oyster rounding out the series on March 30.

McLeish encourages fans to meet and talk to the performers who will have their CDs for sale and for signing. Local singer-songwriters, poets and story tellers are also encouraged to come and perform one of their pieces on stage during the shows.

“It’s important that those in the arts have a chance to have their work heard and we hope that this is an opportunity to make that happen,” he said. “The performers enjoy it because the audience is always so attentive.”

He thanked Bob’s Music for sponsoring the concert series.

For more information on the series contact Kelly at Westside Tap and Grill or e-mail Terry McLeish at: